To: President Donald Trump
Save our bank!
Most banks don't care about you or me, but in Bangladesh there's a bank that does. Today Grameen Bank is owned by the rural poor whom it serves. Borrowers of the Bank own 90% of its shares. If you don't act today, that will change and a small corrupt few will take it over.
Why is this important?
I'm going to tell you something you might not believe, the Grameen Bank in Bangladesh belongs to the whole world, including you.
Founded in 1976, the Grameen Bank is run by poor rural women in Bangladesh, it has won the Nobel Peace Prize, and it has returns in line with multinational banks the world over. It's more than a money making institution however, it sends children to school, provides a secure pension and savings for families on the brink and gives micro-loans to millions of women to start their own businesses which support and nurture their families. And now the Bangladesh government wants to end all of that.
Bangladesh seems like it might be a world away, but it's not. We're in the midst of a worldwide recession caused by wealthy bankers and corporations who put their own profits ahead of the well being of average citizens like you, and me. As the banks fail, they turn to us, taxpayers, mothers, fathers and small business folks, to bail them out. Clearly there must be better options for our savings and our economies. And the Grameen Bank is a successful alternative.
But now, after almost 40 years of international renown, the government of Bangladesh has a scheme to take the control from these impoverished women and give it to wealthy businessmen. Why? For two reasons: The government run banks are already considered to be bastions of corruption and greed, unconcerned with the fate of the people who entrust officials with their life savings. And because Grameen, is currently not under their control or oversight.
I'm tired of the smallest percent controlling all of our savings in this world. I'm tired of how little they care about depleting our pension funds, foreclosing on our houses, high interest education loans, and all of the other ways they screw the little people. Let Grameen stay in the hands of its stockholders and its customers. Let us all have an example of a bank that represents the interests of the common man and woman. Please call on our President to put pressure on Bangladesh to leave Grameen in the hands of the people, it's their money after all.
Founded in 1976, the Grameen Bank is run by poor rural women in Bangladesh, it has won the Nobel Peace Prize, and it has returns in line with multinational banks the world over. It's more than a money making institution however, it sends children to school, provides a secure pension and savings for families on the brink and gives micro-loans to millions of women to start their own businesses which support and nurture their families. And now the Bangladesh government wants to end all of that.
Bangladesh seems like it might be a world away, but it's not. We're in the midst of a worldwide recession caused by wealthy bankers and corporations who put their own profits ahead of the well being of average citizens like you, and me. As the banks fail, they turn to us, taxpayers, mothers, fathers and small business folks, to bail them out. Clearly there must be better options for our savings and our economies. And the Grameen Bank is a successful alternative.
But now, after almost 40 years of international renown, the government of Bangladesh has a scheme to take the control from these impoverished women and give it to wealthy businessmen. Why? For two reasons: The government run banks are already considered to be bastions of corruption and greed, unconcerned with the fate of the people who entrust officials with their life savings. And because Grameen, is currently not under their control or oversight.
I'm tired of the smallest percent controlling all of our savings in this world. I'm tired of how little they care about depleting our pension funds, foreclosing on our houses, high interest education loans, and all of the other ways they screw the little people. Let Grameen stay in the hands of its stockholders and its customers. Let us all have an example of a bank that represents the interests of the common man and woman. Please call on our President to put pressure on Bangladesh to leave Grameen in the hands of the people, it's their money after all.